Low rate of vaccination a challenge

National

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
A SENIOR health worker at one of Milne Bay’s rural health centres says apart from funding issues, a low vaccination rate was their main challenge this year.
Dielo Maika, sister-in-charge of Bolubolu Health Centre in the Goodenough local level government (LLG) in Kiriwina-Goodenough, said there had not been any improvements with the rate of vaccinations for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in her district.
“So far, only 15 people out of the 8,000 people within our catchment area have been vaccinated,” she said.
Maika said she was concerned that the majority of the people were reluctant about getting vaccinated.
“With the recent Delta variant surges and the latest Covid-19 variant Omicron, I am very concerned,” she told The National.
“I want all of the 8,000 people to be fully vaccinated before the variant hits our shores.”
Maika said the health centre had recorded four positive Covid-19 cases this year, however, due to negligence towards vaccination, she was worried the numbers would increase.
“People run away when the vaccination teams arrived at their respective locations to roll out the Covid-19 vaccination.”